A rave from the Venice Film Festival Festival. Ryan Gosling on the red carpet in Venice for the premier of First Man.

Damien Chazelle's film about Neil Armstrong's journey through the space program is a drama so revelatory in its realism that it shoots the moon. Read more here.

The first trailer of First Man, based on the biography by James R. Hansen, is released by Universal/Dreamworks!

A stellar review in People of Okay Fine Whatever by Courtenay Hameister:

"Bitingly funny memory... A smart, inspiring read."

The first trailer of First Man, based on the biography by James R. Hansen, is released by Universal/Dreamworks!

Brava Annalee Newitz and Autonomous!

We are proud to announce the launch of Amy Poeppel's second novel, LIMELIGHT (available May 1).In a Starred Review, Booklist praised the book as an "outstanding sophomore work... A tribute to Broadway, teen celebrity life, and a mother who has now seen it all,
this work is tough love at its finest and a great read for those wanting a ride on the wild side."

Congratulations to Daniel H. Wilson for Guardian Angels and Other Monsters, his first short story collection (Vintage), and for a rave review in Library Journal!Per libraryjournal.com.

We're over the moon that First Man, James R. Hansen's bestselling biography of Neil Armstrong, is being filmed in Atlanta by Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle.
Ryan Gosling gets into character in a vintage black suit and tie as astronaut Neil Armstrong on the Atlanta set of First Man. Per the article in The Daily Mail, "He's made one small step into a giant character."

Publisher's Weekly:
Annalee Newitz
*In a phenomenal debut that's sure to garner significant awards attention, Newitz, cofounder of io9, sends three fascinating characters on an action-packed race against time through a strange yet familiar futuristic landscape. After pharmaceutical pirate Jack Chen's latest batch of reverse-engineered performance drugs proves dangerous and sometimes even fatal for the users, she sets out to rectify the damage by finding a cure and exposing the corrupt manufacturer who first developed the drug. As she dodges the authorities and agents of the International Property Coalition, she reconnects with figures from her checkered past and comes to terms with her role as an antipatent scientist-crusader. Meanwhile, the IPC agents on her tail have their own issues: human Eliasz and indentured robot Paladin are developing unexpected feelings for each other, with Paladin prompted to reconsider his gender identity, which may complicate their relentless search for Jack and her allies. Newitz laces her narrative with sincere explorations of free will, social accountability, corporate morality, and scientific responsibility. Jack's liaisons with lovers of various genders and Paladin's own gradual evolution contribute to a skillful inspection of attraction and identity that feels right at home in Newitz's fragmented, frenetic society. Agent: Laurie Fox, Linda Chester Literary. (Sept.)

Library Journal:
Autonomous
Starred Review on JULY 1, 2017 | SF/Fantasy
Judith "Jack" Chen is a pharmaceutical pirate: by reverse-engineering prohibitively expensive drugs, she can make antivirals and other therapies available to the poor. Unfortunately, one of the drugs she duplicates is resulting in a series of lethal overdoses, and now she has to fix it and expose the truth about the corporation that created the original. Tracking down Jack is Paladin, a military-issue robot from the African Federation, and his human partner, Eliasz. Paladin's first mission starts his countdown clock-ten (or so) years of indentured servitude for his robot body and bio brain, both belonging to the Federation. As Jack and Paladin's paths bring them closer together, the black-and-white truths of the corporate and military worlds begin to bleed into gray. The cofounder of the sf website io9.com takes some of today's key social and technical issues (the nature of artificial intelligence, the notion of property and ownership) and wraps them in a compelling, original story line acted out by memorable characters. VERDICT Lovers of original, thought-provoking sf should not miss this one. [Newitz was a panelist at LJ's Day of Dialog: ow.ly/UNS430cD2o1.-Ed.]-KC

Caption:
"The Price of Freedom: An Interview With Annalee Newitz" in the Huffington Post.

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks
Occasionally, librarian humor can get a bit niche. The subtitle of this collection of letters addressed to books, from librarian and debut author Spence, might mislead; while flavored with a good dose of librarian, it's perfect for any bibliophile and terrifically funny. These aren't only love letters to the books that have made the author laugh and cry, there are also letters to the titles she can't bear to touch. Literally. The ones that needed to be weeded decades ago. Those she can't bear to have recommended to her one more time (e.g., Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian). Like many inveterate readers, Spence learns about life through books, but she also discovers more about her surroundings-there's even a letter to bookshelves she encounters at a stranger's party. This book should appeal to readers who are looking for the next Texts from Jane Eyre, or those who enjoyed that concept but don't especially like texting. It will also attract anyone who, upon walking into someone's house, first side-eyes the bookshelves and instantly judges.
VERDICT Highly recommended.-Audrey Snowden, Orrington P.L., ME

Great news! Annie Spence's DEAR FAHRENHEIT 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks been selected by public library staff across the nation as the #3 pick for the September 2017 LibraryReads

We are so pleased to announce that Amy Poeppel's SMALL ADMISSIONS is being featured on Subway Library.

The MTA, their WiFi partner TransitWireless, and New York Libraries (the New York Public Library, The Brooklyn Public Library and The Queens Library) have announced the launch of "Subway Library," a special, six-week long joint promotion providing customers with access to high quality reading material to enjoy during their summer commute, including a large selection of excerpts from nearly 60 Simon & Schuster books.

Profiled in the New York Times and promoted through ads in subway cars and stations as well on social media (#SubwayLibrary), the Subway Library celebrates the installation of free wireless connectivity in all underground subway stations. MTA customers in underground subway stations can connect to the free TransitWirelessWiFi through their network settings, and click on the SubwayLibrary.com prompt to start reading great books from Simon & Schuster and other publishers. Readers are encouraged to download the NYPL app to check the book out once they finish reading.

October 2018 date set for Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle's film of James R. Hansen's FIRST MAN, starring Ryan Gosling!

Congratulations to Daniel H. Wilson on his starred Kirkus review of The Clockwork Dynasty (Doubleday, August 2017)

A feisty young anthropologist discovers a secret civilization of mechanical souls. Wilson (Robogenesis, 2014, etc.) continues his obsession with intelligent machines in this ambitious fantasy, melding the real-life past with a secret history of seemingly immortal mechanical beings who call themselves avtomat: "Maybe the closest analogue in English is the word robot." The book opens as young June Stefanov listens to her grandfather's memory of a mechanical soldier he encountered at Stalingrad. "There are strange things in the world, June," he says. "Things older than we know. Walking with the faces of men...there are angels among us." From here, the book pivots between grown-up June, who seeks out mechanical antiquities on behalf of the shadowy Kunlun Foundation, and Peter Alexeyvich and Elena Petrova, two mechanical beings resurrected in Moscow circa 1709 by Giacomo Favorini, the last mechanician of Czar Peter the Great. Both tales are thrilling and very different. Peter's form is that of a young man, while his "sister" Elena looks like a 12-year-old girl. After the czar dies, the two are forced to flee to London, where Peter takes up arms as a soldier of fortune and Elena finds a way to live her long life in the body of a child. Back in the present day, June is hunted by Talus Silferstrom, enforcer for an ancient avtomat called Leizu, before being rescued by Peter, who is a pivotal character in a war between warring steampunk leviathans. This bold adventure is a stew of cult-classic concepts-the avtomat reflect the Immortals in the Highlander franchise, while the ancient and deadly Elena is reminiscent of child vampire Claudia in Interview with the Vampire (1976). It may wear its influences on its sleeve but it's also a welcome treat for steampunk and fantasy fans. A thrilling mix of influences, much like Sylvain Neuvel's Sleeping Giants (2016) and HBO's Westworld, that creates a captivating scenario begging for many sequels.

The paperback release of Elizabeth Brundage's ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR was featured in the February 10, 2017 issue of The New York Times.

The Paperback Row page notes that the novel is a "masterly thriller."

The agency congratulates Elizabeth Brundage on the paperback release of her acclaimed thriller, ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR.

We congratulate Amy Poeppel for the wonderful reviews and exciting mentions for her debut novel, SMALL ADMISSIONS.

People's Book of the Week

"The Devil Wears Prada meets Primates of Park Avenue." -The New York Times

I'm thrilled to introduce today's guest to The Debutante Ball, author Elizabeth Brundage. Elizabeth has written four novels, and her most recent, ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR, was described by Tom Nolan in The Wall Street Journal as, "Lyrically written, frequently shocking and immensely moving." Time magazine called it, "Exquisitely gut-churning." Speaking from personal experience, I couldn't agree more! â This literary thriller is a compelling, disturbing, absorbing page-turner. It is an all-time favorite of mine.

If you haven't already, pick up a copy of Elizabeth's latest novel today. You can also enter to win a copy by retweeting. Click here To read more.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Brundage. The Wall Street Journal names ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR one of the best mysteries of 2016.

In Elizabeth Brundage's "All Things Cease to Appear," an art-history professor returns to his upstate New York farmhouse one afternoon to find his wife murdered. This remarkable, time-shifting work plays with elements of noir, as well as gothic tales and even Swedenborgian spiritual teachings. No thumbnail description does justice to this book, which deserves more than a single reading. The ghosts of Melville, Coleridge and Conrad haunt "The North Water," Ian McGuire's mesmerizing account of an 1859 whaling expedition plagued by ill fortune and its own bad intentions. The moral compass of the book is the opium-addicted ship's doctor, who finds himself at odds with the vessel's larcenous captain when he brings the latter's attention to a death he believes to beâa murder. "We are here to kill whales," the captain says, "not root out sin." But sin will out.â

Laura Lippman is best known for her series, but she shines most in her stand-alone novels. In "Wilde Lake," a small-town prosecutor is forced to confront her own past as she investigates a home-intrusion murder. As Ms. Lippman deftly guides the reader through complex legal and moral tangles,âshe keenly obverses the neighborhood and its residents: "There is nothing obviously wrong with the Grove, yet . . . the people who live here now are, at best, treading water. Like the Grove, they've seen better days."

The focus in Poeppel's quick-witted debut novel is on elite private school admissions. With so many strong personalities and disparate threads, Kate and her story might easily have gotten lost, but the author, like a circus ringmaster, points attention here and there, always bringing it back to the center. An excellent debut. (Publishers Weekly, December)

Debut author Poeppel, who did a stint as an admissions officer, gives us an inside peek into the selection process at an elite prep school. The result is a witty and captivating page-turner punctuated with quirky characters and laugh-out-loud moments that are sure to appeal to chick lit lovers of the Marian Keyes/Jennifer Weiner/Susan Isaacs variety. (Library Journal, November)

When Kate gets dumped, she takes a job in admissions at a fancy prep school, where she finds herself battling bratty teens and their overbearing parents in this dishy, LOL delight. (CosmoReads)

Poeppel gives an in-depth look at the admissions process, with a side of secrets, bombshells, heartbreak, and hope. This novel is a slow burn but has a firecracker ending, and is perfect for fans of Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep (2005) or Jessica Anya Blau's The Trouble with Lexie (2016)." (Erin Holt, Booklist, November)

We're delighted to announce Doubleday's lead title for the Fall season, David Bianculli's

THE PLATINUM AGE OF TELEVISION: How TV Became Terrific.

David Bianculli's excellent The Platinum Age of Television (Knopf/Doubleday) offers a rousing rundown of the history of the medium and how it became the pop-cultural, multi-platform programming colossus of today. Through thoughtful, engaging, entertaining essays on sitcoms, crime shows, soap operas, westerns, cartoons and late-night, plus a roster of exclusive interviews, he guides readers though an ever-changing road map of themes, formats, stars and styles for a comprehensive overview of an entertainment juggernaut that continues to grow and evolve. - Parade.co

A late-in-life coming-of-age escapade told with humor and heart, Don't Think Twice is a moving and irreverent account of grief, growing up, and the healing power of adventure.

Within six months, Barbara Schoichet lost everything: her job, her girlfriend of six years, and her mother to pancreatic cancer. Her life stripped bare, and armed with nothing but a death wish and a ton of attitude, Barbara pursues an unlikely method of coping. At the age of fifty she earns her motorcycle license, buys a Harley on eBay from two guys named Dave, and drives it alone from New York to Los Angeles on a circuitous trek loosely guided by her H.O.G. tour book and a whole lot of road whimsy.

On the open highway - where she daily takes her speed to a hundred - Barbara battles physical limitations and inner demons on a journey that flows through the majestic Appalachian Mountains, the enchanting Turquoise Trail, and all along America's iconic Route 66. She is awed by the battlefields in Gettysburg, stunned by the decadence of Graceland, and amused by a Cadillac graveyard in the middle of nowhere. She meets kind strangers, odd strangers, and a guy who pulls a gun on her for cutting him off. She is vulnerable but sassy, broken but determined to heal... or die trying.

Advance Praise for DON'T THINK TWICE

"If you're yearning for a wild ride of an adventure, as well as a jolt of heartening life philosophies, don't think twice about making Don't Think Twice your next read. You will not regret it!" - Diana Nyad, world champion swimmer and author of Find a Way

"Finally, a road trip - dangerous, exciting, and illuminating - taken by a woman, and on a motorcycle! Yesss! This is inspiring to those of us who can't but who wish we could." - Jane Juska, author of A Round-Heeled Woman

"Vivid and honest, Don't Think Twice is as fresh as the wind on your face. Reading this book will remind you that just when you think you've hit the end of the road, it's time to set out to discover a new path for your life." - Diana Bletter, author of A Remarkable Kindness

Stephen Metcalf's second novel, THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR, will be released by St. Martins Press in August of 2016. The Practical Navigator is the story of Michael Hodge, a man who is adrift and is looking to find his bearings. He is a struggling building contractor. He is an abandoned husband, is the father of a seven year old boy on the autism spectrum, his mother is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's and his girlfriend is married. A practical man, Michael remains surprisingly upbeat. But then, out of nowhere, his estranged wife, Anita, returns home wanting ? Michael isn't sure what ? a reconciliation? A new relationship? A role in the life of their son, Jamie? The ocean has become more turbulent than ever and Michel's carefully patched together world begins to flounder and drift. Can Michael Hodge help everyone in his life find happiness without sacrificing his own? He's not sure of that either. All he knows is that safe harbor, a sheltered haven for himself and the people he loves, is far away.

"Stephen Metcalfe's flawlessly crafted novel, The Practical Navigator, takes the reader through an emotional, but heartwarming, account of a single parent raising an autistic child."
- Authorlink.com

"Metcalfe's experience writing movies and plays is on full display in this novel, as its strongest moments are in its powerful short scenes, which shift frequently to offer insight into multiple characters. Metcalfe's adult debut is at its best in portraying everyday moments as the parent of an autistic child... an engaging read." - Kirkus Reviews

"Metcalfe deftly tells a story of a man struggling to cope with a life out of control. He carefully compares Michael's life to that of a navigator, in this character-driven, open-ended story filled with awkward, sympathetic characters." - Library Journal (starred review)

"This is Metcalfe's first adult novel, and his talent as a screenwriter is evident in every suspenseful scene and exchange of witty dialogue. Fans of Jonathan Tropper and Matthew Norman will enjoy this delightful and sympathetic story of a nontraditional family making its way in the world." - Booklist

Congratulations to Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman on THE FIFTY-YEAR MISSION (2 volumes), their masterful oral history on "Star Trek."

The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek, Volume One: The First Twenty-Five Years.

Gross and Altman bring together the voices of the writers, producers, actors, and fans who brought Star Trek to life and kept it thriving for five decades in this incredibly comprehensive volume, the first of two set to coincide with Star Trek's fiftieth anniversary. Focusing on the original series and the six movies it spawned, this oral history delves into the challenges the series faced as well as the large personalities behind the scenes and in front of the camera. None was larger, perhaps, than show creator Gene Roddenberry, whose vision and determination kept StarTrek going even as his ego and attempts at having total creative control put him in conflict with other writers and executives. Gross and Altman shine a spotlight on such unsung heroes as writer Gene L. Coon, who produced many of the show's iconic episodes, to Richard Block, who brought the show into syndication, which allowed the fan base to grow even after cancellation and paved the way for the animated series, the films, and the series' eventual return to live-action television. Breathtaking in scope and depth, this is a must-read for Star Trek lovers as well as anyone who wants a better understanding of how television and film production works. Readers will be eager for the second book.

- Booklist

Advance praise for Small Admissions:

"Trenchant, funny, and observant... as a prose artist, Ms. Poeppel leaves nothing to be desired, except that she write more and more."
-Hilton Als, staff writer for The New Yorker and author of White Girls and The Women

"Amy Poeppel's writing is the perfect mixture of hilarious and smart.... She absolutely nails the world of admissions in a funny, insightful, and fabulous insider's look at this fascinating microcosm of human nature. What a delicious read."
-Lolly Winston, author of Good Grief and Happiness Sold Separately

"Small Admissions is quick-witter and razor-sharp. With a chorus of varied and absurd voices, you'll laugh at everyone involved while secretly fearing that you see yourself in the mix. Amy Poeppel manages to tell a story both poignant and hilarious."
-Amy Shearn, author of The Mermaid of Brooklyn and How Far is the Ocean from Here

"A rare book that actually makes you laugh out loud. Small Admissions offers a peek into the world of New York City private school admissions, but the deadly insights hardly stop there. Family, friendships, meetings(!)-Poeppel tells gleaming, hilarious truths about them all."
-Charity Shumway, author of Ten Girls to Watch

"A marriage, a sociopath, a family destroyed by the economy, the things we do for love - all finely drawn.... All of the [cast] are sympathetic and suspicious in equal measure, a result of Brundage's ability to peel away the onionskin layers of emotion that define any relationship. As the clues accumulate and the killer is revealed, the truth becomes both horrifying and inevitable. In the end, justice is done and redemption found, though not as one might expect, which makes the book all the more satisfying." - Vanessa Friedman, The New York Times Book Review

"Lyrically written, frequently shocking and immensely moving.... It was, perhaps, for such extraordinary books that the term 'literary thriller' was coined.... Reading this book is at once wrenching and exhilarating, thanks to Ms. Brundage's prose, which can make you gasp in astonishment or break your heart with a single line." - Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal

"Brundage's searing, intricate novel epitomizes the best of the literary thriller, marrying gripping drama with impeccably crafted prose, characterizations, and imagery... Moving fluidly between viewpoints and time periods, Brundage's complex narrative requires and rewards close attention. Succeeding as murder mystery, ghost tale, family drama, and love story, her novel is both tragic and transcendent." - Publishers Weekly [boxed review]

"Brundage's account of a marriage in free fall will, inevitably, be compared to Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl (2012), even as it rises to greater literary heights and promises a soaring mix of mysticism, mayhem, and madness. - Booklist [starred review]

"With a storyline that tightens like a constrictor, this is a book that you won't want to read alone late at night." Kirkus Reviews [starred review]

"A more literary, and feminist, Gone Girl" - Vogue

People Magazine and Time will review All Things Cease to Appear (date to be announced), and a review in The Atlantic is also expected.

All Things Cease to Appear has been chosen as a Featured Selection for The Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club and The Mystery Guild.

August 9, 2016, St. Martin's Press

THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR by Stephen Metcalfe

"Metcalfe's experience writing movies and plays is on full display in this novel, with powerful short scenes which shift frequently to offer insight into multiple characters ... portraying everyday moments as the parent of an autistic child. An engaging read." - Kirkus Reviews

September 6, 2016, G.P. Putnam's Sons

DON'T THINK TWICE: Adventure and Healing at 100 Miles Per Hour by Barbara Schoichet

"Finally, a road trip - dangerous, exciting, and illuminating - taken by a woman, and on a motorcycle! Yesss! This is inspiring to those of us who can't but who wish we could." - Jane Juska, author of A Round-Heeled Woman

"Vivid and honest, Don't Think Twice is as fresh as the wind on your face. Reading this book will remind you that just when you think you've hit the end of the road, it?s time to set out to discover a new path for your life." - Diana Bletter, author of A Remarkable Kindness

We're thrilled to hear that Ryan Gosling is the front-runner to play Neil Armstrong in James R. Hansen's FIRST MAN,
to be directed by Damien Chazelle (Oscar-nominated for "Whiplash") and with a screenplay by Josh Singer (screenwriter of "Spotlight", a strong contender for the Oscar), who has written for "The West Wing"
and "Fringe". Vanity Fair

Readers know at the outset of Brundage's (A Stranger like You, 2010) cunning psychological thriller that Catherine Clare has been savagely murdered and suspect, if they don't know for certain, that the crime was committed by her husband, George. What follows is a crafty dissection of the dissolution of a marriage that was doomed from the start. Ill-suited opposites, Catherine and George only marry when Catherine becomes pregnant. An art historian who never completed his doctoral dissertation and never owned up to this lapse, George lands a plum position at a tony private college in the Hudson River Valley. Small-town reticence coupled with rural isolation provide further challenges to their shaky union, and a series of inexplicable and unsolved crimes only add to the uneasiness of Catherine's life in their impoverished farmhouse, where the previous owners committed suicide. As she builds the case against the sociopathic husband, Brundage also constructs a dynamic portrait of a young woman coming into her own at the fringe of the 1970s feminist movement and implicates a destructively self-protective community that fails to seek justice. Brundage's account of a marriage in free fall will, inevitably, be compared to Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl (2012), even as it rises to greater literary heights and promises a soaring mix of mysticism, mayhem, and madness.

-Carol Haggas

Congrats to Daniel Wilson on his starred review in Publishers Weekly! Press Start to Play

Even those who doubt the editors' claim that "video games have come to play a vital role in modern human civilization" will be enthralled by these 26 stories (most of which are original to this volume) exploring what video gaming does for and to its participants. The main character in Robin Wasserman's "All of the People in Your Party Have Died" painfully chooses selfish practicality over passion. Physical metamorphoses reveal the essence of a macho lawyer in Marguerite K. Bennett's equally pessimistic but hilarious "Stats." Players discover valuable truths by testing the limits of a fantastic scenario in Cory Doctorow's "Anda's Game." Some stories, such as Chris Kluwe's "Please Continue," vehemently argue against too much immersion in gaming, while others, such as Charlie Jane Anders's "Rat Catcher's Yellows," simply respect the potent allure of living for a brief time in a fantasy world. Wilson and Adams (Robot Uprisings) have assembled a provocative assortment of thoughtful stories, making a valuable contribution to ongoing conversations about the future directions of video gaming. (Aug.) Reviewed on 06/12/2015

Love And Miss Communication
Published May 12, 2015 By William Morrow an Imprint of Harper Collins

This unforgettable debut novel asks us to look up from our screens and out at the world...and to imagine what life would be like with no searches, no status updates, no texts, no Tweets, no pins, and no posts.

Evie Rosen has had enough. She's tired of the partners at her law firm e-mailing her at all hours of the night. The thought of another online date makes her break out in a cold sweat. She's over the clever hashtags and the endless selfies. So when her career hits a surprising roadblock and her heart is crushed by Facebook, Evie decides it's time to put down her smartphone for good. (Beats stowing it in her underwear - she's done that too!)

And that's when she discovers a fresh start for real conversations, fewer distractions, and living in the moment, even if the moments are heartbreakingly difficult. Babies are born; marriages teeter; friendships are tested. Evie just may find love and a new direction when she least expects it, but she also learns that just because you unplug your phone doesn't mean you can unplug from life.

Reviews

"When this book's protagonist, Evie Rosen, decides to go cold turkey with technology, we can't help but marvel at her valiance and keep reading to find out how she fares...Rosen quickly finds that living in the moment, although sometimes scary, is something worth striving for and we found ourselves inspired to do the same."
InStyle Magazine

"What are we missing while we're glued to our tiny screens - We've all asked this question. In Friedland's frank and funny debut, we see what happens when one young woman takes the plunge - with unforgettable (and brave) results."
Glamour Magazine

"Friedland's Love and Miss Communication challenges our mind-set with a thought-provoking what if. And Evie's story promises an enjoyable experience with a happy ever after."
Michelle Monkou, USA Today

"Witty and hilarious...a love story for the 21st century."
Emily Giffin

"Friedland's headstrong heroine guides readers through the process of digital detox. Do we have what it takes to truly unplug? According to Friedland, there is a happy medium. It's OK to live a life of hashtags as long as you don't limit yourself to 140 characters."
Lincee Ray, Associated Press

"Love and Miss Communication is a page turner about the way we live today"
New Jersey Jewish News

"Friedland's entertaining debut follows New Yorker Evie Rosen as she rediscovers herself after abandoning the trappings of modern-day technology. At 34, Evie is a high-powered corporate attorney whose personal life is constantly interrupted by the demands of her job, delivered courtesy of an ever-present BlackBerry. Poised to become partner, Evie is blindsided when her firm unceremoniously fires her after uncovering thousands of personal e-mails sent from her work account. To make matters worse, she stumbles upon the wedding photos of a supposedly marriage-averse ex-boyfriend. After her computer is irreparably damaged, Evie decides to give up the Internet, much to the astonishment of friends and family. Thus begins Evie's year-long hiatus from the web - one that is not without complications, particularly when her beloved grandmother is diagnosed with cancer and her friendships become increasingly strained. At the same time, Evie's electronic exile begins to yield unexpected possibilities and new relationships, including one with the handsome, earnest doctor in charge of her grandmother's care. Friedland's zippy tale offers a lively take on life and love in the age of social media."
Leah Strauss, Booklist

"We dare you not to "like" Friedland's debut of Internet use gone awry. The author sprinkles humor, angst and animated characters into her chapters while tackling the common struggle of unplugging from the online world. The novel begs you to put down your iPhone and follow Evie along her Internet-less ride. And just wait until you meet Bette!"
Romance Times of America 4.5 stars

"A witty, wonderful, and thoroughly modern love story. Friedland's writing is sharp and funny, tender and true. I couldn't put it down."
Cristina Alger, author of The Darlings

"Funny, fast-paced, charming, and totally relatable, Friedland gives us a brilliant love story and reminds us it's nice to pick up a smart book instead of a smartphone for a change."
Jennifer Belle, bestselling author of High Maintenance and The Seven Year Bitch

"Wholly irresistible-smart and poignant and laugh-out-loud funny."
Sara Houghteling, author of Pictures at an Exhibition

"An extremely fun reminder that we can all survive without emoticons. #greatread!"
Erin Duffy, author of ON THE ROCKS and BOND GIRL

"LOVE AND MISS COMMUNICATION is a funny and fresh take on working and dating in the age of social media. Readers will root for the flawed but lovable Evie Rosen as she fights to separate who she is from how she appears online. By giving up the internet, Evie gains something much richer - the ability to experience life as it unfolds, rather than through the filter of status updates and staged photos. We can all learn from Evie in this regard, even as we laugh at her many missteps in her quest for career and relationship happiness."
Susan Gloss, author of Vintage

"Part modern girl-power moxie manual and part cleverly twisted old-fashioned love story, Elyssa Friedland's sublime debut was a delight to devour."
Jill Kargman, author of The Rockstar in Seat 3A and star of Bravo's Odd Mom Out

"A delicious and timely novel. Friedland takes a look at how our addiction to social media brings us together while keeping us apart."
Molly Jong-Fast, author of The Social Climber's Handbook

Congratulations to William Hackman on his in-depth interview and coverage for OUT OF SIGHT, the social/cultural history of art in Los Angeles in The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian. As Hackman writes: "I think the art of Los Angeles tells us more about the sort of country America was at mid-century, and the sort of place it was rapidly becoming, then does the self-conscious and sophisticated art of New York at the time."

We are proud to announce the release of Stephen Metcalfe's debut novel, THE TRAGIC AGE.

Less Than Zero meets Catcher in the Rye in this biting bildungsroman. Written in an insightful, frenetic tone that occasionally turns surreal. Exhilarating and indicting. (Kirkus Reviews (starred review))

Metcalfe snares readers' attention with rich, fantastic characters... A wonderful read that is hard to put down, The Tragic Age will continue to haunt readers long after the last page has been turned. (Voya)

"Metcalfe's taut prose and unique narrative choices mark him as a writer to watch." (Booklist)

"Billy makes for a mordant, smart, and angry protagonistÃ¢ÂÂ¦debut author Metcalfe, a screenwriter and playwright, amps up the melodrama with a car chase, a shooting, and a Grand Guignol ending that dooms some while reawakening Billy." (Publishers Weekly)

About the Author
STEPHEN METCALFE wrote the production drafts for Pretty Woman, Dangerous Minds and Mr. Holland's Opus, among others. His stage plays have been produced in New York and at theaters throughout the US, Europe and Japan. He is an Associate Artist at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and has been an adjunct professor in dramatic writing at University of California at San Diego, University of San Diego and San Diego State University. The Tragic Age is his debut novel.

"A Difficult Par" Wins 2014 USGA Herbert Warren Wind Book Award

In recognition of its high standard of achievement in golf literature, James R. Hansen's A Difficult Par: Robert Trent Jones Sr. and the Making of Modern Golf has earned the United States Golf Association's Herbert Warren Wind Book Award for 2014.

In recognition of its high standard of achievement in golf literature, James R. Hansen's A Difficult Par: Robert Trent Jones Sr. and the Making of Modern Golf has earned the United States Golf Association's Herbert Warren Wind Book Award for 2014.

Hansen's profile of renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. is an expertly researched and written reflection on the life and career of one of the most prolific, well-respected and transformational figures in the history of golf.

"Robert Trent Jones was a colossus of the game and his contributions to golf course architecture undoubtedly influenced the way championship golf has been played over the past 65 years," said Michael Trostel, senior historian for the USGA Museum.

"In A Difficult Par, James Hansen uses exhaustive research methods to deliver a comprehensive depiction of the man who shaped the landscape of modern golf, skillfully weaving together the story of family and business to break new ground on one of the game's most celebrated and significant designers."

"To have the USGA and Herbert Warren Wind associated with a book that I wrote is a huge honor," said Hansen. "There is no name in golf writing more respected or more prestigious than Wind. As a writer, it is the ultimate distinction in my career."

"This is an astonishing book, full of heartbreak and love and hard-won wisdom. Melissa Cistaro writes beautifully not just about her search for the mother who abandoned her, but about the myriad ways parents and children don't and do connect. Told in vivid scenes and through the texts of letters her mother never sent, Cistaro chronicles a journey that goes way past forgiveness to true understanding."

Will Schwalbe, bestselling author of THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB "PIECES OF MY MOTHER" is driven by an almost tangible need for clarity. To understand and accept herself, the writer must first unravel the mystery of her mother. Amidst the chaos of life and loss, in clear lovely prose, Melissa Cistaro has written the perfect memoir. I love this book."

Abigail Thomas - bestselling author of A THREE DOG LIFE, SAFEKEEPING and WHAT COMES NEXT AND HOW TO LIKE IT

Praise for YEAR OF THE COW: How 420 Pounds of Beef Built a Better Life for One American Family by Jared Stone (Spring 2015, Flatiron Books/Macmillan):

"A high-octane, thinking-man's account of one guy's quest to find meaning in life by cooking a grass-fed steer. The food descriptions and recipes could tempt even a vegan to order steak. You'll never look at feedlot meat the same way."

Steven Raichlen, author of the Barbecue! Bible cookbook series and host of PBS's Primal Grill.

"A lively, informative, sometimes-intimate tale from his family's adventure eating a freezer full of beef over two years of culinary and lifestyle changes.... The author braises his book in his family's values [and] Stone's revealing set pieces are warm, winning and welcome. Readers will feel like guests in their home, privy to private fears and joys as well as gastronomic triumphs and catastrophes."

Kirkus Reviews

"A winsome, endearing, and revealing story, Stone's nose-to-tail experience with a whole beef in his kitchen makes the daunting seem like can-do fun.... Epiphanies occur in unexpected places, but each one expresses the connections, responsibilities, and opportunities all of us share with food and the land. A truly enjoyable read."

Joel Salatin, farmer profiled in Food, Inc. and The Omnivore's Dilemma and author of

Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World

OUT OF SIGHT: THE LOS ANGELES ART SCENE OF THE SIXTIES

By William Hackman

For as long as there has been an arts scene in America, it has been
focused on the East Coast, specifically New York. For the art world
and those who populated it, New York was as important as Paris -
a mecca for those seeking the newest and the most avant-garde
work. Los Angeles barely rated a mention, if it was ever mentioned
at all - a world that was out of sight and out of mind for those who
considered themselves true aesthetes.

In his new book OUT OF SIGHT: The Los Angeles Art Scene
of the Sixties, William Hackman chronicles the remarkable and
surprising story of how Los Angeles became a center of artistic
independence and innovation not just in America, but on the
world stage. Hackman details in-depth every moment of the rapidfire
rise, fall, and rebirth of L.A.?s art scene- from the emergence
of a small bohemian community in the 1950s to the founding of
the Museum of Contemporary Art in 1980. Included are some of
the most influential artists of our time: painters Edward Ruscha
and Vija Celmins, sculptors Ed Kienholz and Ken Price, and many
others.

"William Hackman's Out of Sight is an intelligent, incisive, never-trivial account of the California art scene and its romantic beginnings in the '50s and '60s. Read this book if you want to know about Ken Price, Vija Celmins, Ed Ruscha and Bruce Nauman or, in other words, if you want to know about America's coolest
artists."
-Deborah Solomon, author of American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell

JUST SOLD to G. P. Putnam's Sons

Barbara Schoichet's DON'T THINK TWICE, a memoir of how, in the face of loss and grief, the author got her motorcycle license at age 50 and rode from New York to Los Angeles on a Harley Davidson.

The Gift of Maybe
Finding Hope and Possibility in Uncertain Times
By Allison Carmen
Perigee Books; $15 Trade Paperback; 978-0-399-169353-3; November 4, 2014

"A little gem of a book with a positive and powerful message."
-Library Journal

Former attorney Allison Carmen was an addict, but her addiction wasn't to drugs, alcohol, or even gambling; her addiction was to certainty. Every moment, Allison desperately sought to know or predict what would happen next, trapping her in a spiral of anxiety, uncertainty and fear.

Now a life coach and business consultant, Carmen shares how embracing the concept of "Maybe" dramatically improved her life and outlook in The Gift of Maybe: Finding Hope and Possibility in Uncertain Times (Perigee trade paperback, November 4 2014). Sharing her own stories as well as those of her clients, Carmen shows that by adopting the mindset of "maybe," we can reduce the stress and worry in our lives and open the doors to hope and possibility.

Whether you have just lost your job or are dealing with health concerns and money problems, The Gift of Maybe provides the tools needed to embrace uncertainty as an opportunity. Topics covered include:
The idea that uncertainty doesn't have to bring fear but rather keeps hope alive.
Exercises to help you embrace the unknown rather than mapping out the future.
How to minimize the self-doubt that slows decision-making and keeps us from moving forward

The Gift of Maybe inspires us not just to persevere through life's challenges, but to alter our mindset and discover more hope, joy, and success as a result.

About the Author
After practicing law for fifteen years, Allison Carmen found hope and freedom when she discovered the mindset of Maybe. Today, Allison works as a life coach and business consultant with a wide array of clients, from entrepreneurs and executives to artists, designers, attorneys, medical workers, nannies, parents and more. An active speaker and blogger, she lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters. Her website is AllisonCarmen.com.

Wilson's Robopocalypse (2011), which told the story of a sentient artificial intelligence's plot to wipe out humanity via the narratives of various characters, became something of a pop-culture sensation. It's a good novel, but its sequel is superior in every way. The author preserves the oral-history structure and keeps several of the characters from the first book (including Cormac Wallace and Mathilda Perez), but he veers off in a new and frightening direction. The story is set in the years immediately after the New War; Archos R-14, the AI who very nearly destroyed the human race, is dead, but that doesn't mean humanity's troubles are over. Here's the short list: a civilization to rebuild; a growing discord between robotically modified humans (victims of Archos' horrific experiments) and the unmodified; dangerous robotic creatures running rampant; and a new kind of threat, one even more dangerous than Archos. The writing here is much more visceral and polished than it was in the earlier novel. In fact, the first several pages of this book's first chapter, in which a character is attacked by a robotic parasite, are more frightening and more memorable than the entirety of Robopocalypse. An astounding novel.

- David Pitt

The French House

"On a tiny French island, a couple of American dreamers redefine their lives by restoring a ruin - which in this lovely, shimmering story becomes a parable of a saner, greener, more sustainable path that we all can follow if we will but listen to the wisdom of the villagers the way the Wallaces did. The French House moves to a soulful, very funny rhythm all its own."
- Meryl Streep

"VILLAGE IDIOTS is a brave, insightful and very amusing memoir about a fantasy that many of us have had but not dared to attempt. The only problem with it is that now I want to adopt myself into the Wallace family."
- Jane Smiley, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize

"Warm, funny and full of heart."
- Kirkus Review

Robot Uprisings

We're excited to reveal the full cover of ROBOT UPRISINGS, the new anthology from Daniel H. Wilson and
John Joseph Adams, to be published this April by Vintage. Kirkus Reviews raves "Philip K. Dick would be proud...You'll never look at your Roomba the same way again."

Congratulations to Jonathan Kirsch whose stirring work of biography and history, THE SHORT, STRANGE LIFE OF HERSCHEL GRYNSZPAN: A Boy Avenger, a Nazi Diplomat and a Murder in Paris was selected by The Washington Post as one of the top 100 books of 2013 and a Finalist in the Biography category for the National Jewish Book Award.

Brava, too, to Carolyn Cooke, whose powerful collection of short stories, AMOR AND PSYCHO, was selected as one of the "Best Books of 2013 in fiction" by Publishers Weekly.

Playwright and screenwriter Stephen Metcalfe sold his debut novel, The Tragic Age, to Sally Richardson and Sara Goodman at St. Martin's Press. The editors preempted world rights from Linda Chester at Linda Chester and Associates; the deal was also done in coordination with Droemer in Germany (which is owned by SMP parent company Holtzbrinck). Metcalfe wrote the screenplay for Pretty Woman and SMP said the novel was pitched as "Catcher in the Rye for a new generation." In the book, a high school senior and heir to a major fortune--SMP described the character as "part genius, part philosopher, part social critic, and part lonely misanthrope"--is dramatically changed when he meets a charismatic new student.

Amor and Psycho

Congratulations to Carolyn Cooke on her two starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.

Carolyn Cooke. Knopf, $24.95 (192p) ISBN 978-0-307-59474-7

Psyche, rechristened Psycho by high school "witchy girls," is the star of the local poetry slam team. Psycho is smart, funny, and maybe a little psychic, and though she's been known to adjust facts "for realistic effect," as the narrator tells us, she is instantly likable. Which makes it hard not to miss her when her story morphs into those of two other women in her town, a foggy place up the coast from San Francisco where "poetry is a blood sport." In her second story collection (after The Bostons), Cooke delivers tales of cancer; bosses who stop paying their employees; a teacher and her Native American charge, both with boundary issues; an ambitious young writer who works for a Hustler-like magazine; and a mysterious culture, the Mezima-Wa. Cooke's stories twist and turn, playing games with language. They don't stop where you think they will (or, sometimes, where you think they should), and even when they disappoint (as in "She Bites," a note-perfect reckoning between man and contractor, form and function, that turns into magical realism 101), they leave you with something: shards of phrases; a lifetime of attitudes conveyed in a word or an aside; or odd, perfect details that stick in your mind. Agent: Laurie Fox, Linda Chester Literary Agency. (Aug.)
Reviewed on 05/31/2013 | Details & Permalink

We're delighted that Jonathan Kirsch's new book, THE SHORT, STRANGE LIFE OF HERSCHEL GRYNSZPAN (Norton/Liveright), was touted in The New Yorker and the Wall Street Journal:
"[An] excellent account...Reading this excellent, thought-provoking biography, one is all too easily reminded of Camus's 1942 novel, 'The Stranger.'"
-Philip Kerr, Wall Street Journal

The Gershwins and Me

A Personal History in Twelve Songs
by Michael Feinstein

FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:

Known as the ambassador of the Great American Songbook, musician Feinstein includes a 12-track CD in this combination autobiography and biography of George and Ira Gershwin. At age 20, Feinstein was hired by Ira to catalogue the lyricist’s archives, and the two became close friends over the next six years. Ira died in 1983, and two years later, Feinstein released his debut album, Pure Gershwin. Now he looks back over his “years of obsession,” sharing artifacts from his collection of memorabilia, including personal photos, promotional stage shots, sheet music, correspondence, hand-written lyric fragments, and paintings by the Gershwins. Feinstein writes with wit, humor, and attitude, including fascinating bits of trivia and illuminating anecdotes. Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, and other composers are considered, too. With much space devoted to revisions made in lyrics and ways of interpreting songs, Feinstein deplores how modern productions have stripped these songs of their drama, as in the “travesty” biopic film De-Lovely. Combining text, images and audio into a unique single package, this is an impressive celebration of the Gershwins and their lasting legacy.

FROM KIRKUS REVIEWS:

A multiple Grammy-winning performer of and advocate for American popular song offers the story of his long affection for the work of the Gershwins.

Feinstein (Nice Work If You Can Get It: My Life in Rhythm and Rhyme, 1995) begins with a swift account of how he met Ira Gershwin, the lyricist of the celebrated duo, and how he subsequently went to work for him for six years, researching, identifying and cataloging Gershwin materials. The author has hit upon a happy way to organize this dual biography/celebration: He selects a dozen classic Gershwin songs (from “Strike Up the Band” to “Love Is Here to Stay”), which he arranges not chronologically but biographically. This approach effectively illuminates the lives and careers of his principals. As the title indicates, Feinstein is the third subject. Although he tells the Gershwins’ stories, childhood to grave, he also relates his own history with their music and reveals his great respect for their achievements. Although Feinstein knew Ira and writes affectingly about his lyrics, his admiration of George—pianist and composer—soars. Repeatedly, he lauds George’s artistry at the keyboard and his enduring compositions. Feinstein also discusses the Gershwins’ love lives, the significant performers of their work (from Fred Astaire to Ethel Merman), their successes and flops, their experiences in Hollywood and the devastation of George’s shocking death at 38 (brain tumor). The author includes stories about his own preferences and performances, tales of his avid collecting, minirants about music education and some shots at others (Virgil Thompson among them).

FIRST MANOn the occasion of Neil A. Armstrong's passing, Simon & Schuster is issuing a new edition of FIRST MAN, the essential biography by James R. Hansen, which will feature a new foreword by the author.

Robopocalyspe 'Robopocalypse' fast-tracked at DreamWorks Doubleday also pre-emptively acquires rights to manuscript. Please note that the release date has been moved to April 25, 2014, the same weekend that "The Avengers" debuted this year. View the Article Here.

Congratulations to Daniel H. Wilson on his provocative think piece in the Wall Street Journal on the future of physical and mental enhancements and how they will affect our society. See link here.

An Interview With Elizabeth Brundage

Elizabeth Brundage is the author of three novels: A Stranger Like You, Somebody Else’s Daughter and The Doctor’s Wife. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and was the recipient of a James Michener Award. Click here to read the interview.

Starred Publishers Weekly review and Boston Globe bestseller!

Daughters of the Revolution

Carolyn Cooke. Knopf, $23.95 (192p) ISBN 978-0-307-59473-0

Cooke's flinty first novel, coming nearly 10 years after her much-acclaimed collection, The Bostons, grapples with another set of crafty New Englanders, all involved, one way or another, with the Goode School of Boston in the late 1960s: head Goddard "God" Byrd, a seductive male chauvinist of nearly retirement age, is dead set against allowing girls into his beloved institution despite being himself the product of radical New England reformers; Heck, product of "a brilliant class" at Goode, dies in a suspicious accident at sea while boating with his best friend, Rebozos, widowing his young bride, Mei-Mei; and Heck and Mei-Mei's daughter, EV, becomes an essential narrator, observing her widowed mother's clumsy affair with Byrd, and growing friendly with the first girl admitted to the school in 1969, Carole--the half-black teenage daughter of Rebozos, it turns out. Each of the characters offers his or her own trajectory, moving through the 1970s and into the '80s, from Carole's political and artistic iconoclasm to EV's sexual initiation and move to New York, through to 2005, when Goode's transformation comes full circle. Though these taut narratives live in the book more as discrete stories than as moving parts of a novel, they are individually excellent. Cooke delivers on every page.

"If you read just one book of fiction this year, this should be the one." Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram

Some Girls

Jillian Lauren's astonishing memoir debuts on the New York Times Bestseller list.

Agency Film News

Film rights to Daniel Wilson's ROBOPOCALYPSE, a novel exploring the fate of the human race after a robot uprising, sold to DreamWorks for accelerated development by Justin Manask at the Office for Literary Adaptation on behalf of the Agency.

Universal Studios has acquired the rights to James R. Hansen’s
FIRST MAN, the biography of Neil Armstrong. Nicole Perlman
will write the script. Temple Hill Entertainment partners Marty Bowen
and Wyck Godfrey will produce.

Feature
film rights to roboticist Daniel H. Wilson's How
to Survive a Robot Uprising (Bloomsbury USA; Wired's Book
of the Year 2006) were optioned by Steven Pink, who produced "high fidelity" and directed "hot tub time travel," with actor Jack Black attached. The film will be produced and directed by Steven Spielberg and released on April 25, 2014.

Winston's international
bestseller, Good Grief, was optioned by Marc Platt/Universal. Both deals were made by Joel
Gotler of IPG on behalf of the agency.

Author Highlight

Annalee Newitz writes about science, culture and the future. The Tech Culture Editor at Ars Technica, and the founding editor of i09.com, Newitz was the editor-in-chief of the popular tech site Gizmodo. She's the author of the acclaimed science fiction novel Autonomous from Tor Books and of Scatter, Adapt and Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction (Doubleday and Anchor), which was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize. Newitz' nonfiction has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Wired, The Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, New Scientist, Technology Review, Popular Science, and Discover.

She's the co-editor of the essay collection She's Such a Geek (Seal Press) and author of Pretend We're Dead: Capitalist Monsters in American Pop Culture (Duke University Press). A former policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation and lecturer in American Studies at UC Berkeley, Annalee was the recipient of a Knight Science Journalist Fellowship at MIT, and has a Ph.D. in English and American Studies from UC Berkeley.

Annalee is currently writing a second sci-fi novel for Tor Books as well as a popular science book, Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age for Norton Books. For Autonomous, she received raves from two of the top novelists in the field: "Autonomous is to biotech and AI what Neuromancer was to the Internet." -Neal Stephenson"Something genuinely and thrillingly new in the naturalistic, subjective, paradoxically humanistic but non-anthropomorphic depiction of bot-POV - and all in the service of vivid, solid storytelling." -William Gibson